Japanese knives

How often should you sharpen Japanese knives?

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There is not a specific rule for that.

It depends on the material your knife is made of. Some Japanese knives need to be sharpened every time it has been used and others need to be sharpened a few times a year.

The knives that I use in my work as Japanese trained sushi chef are all purchased in Japan. They are high quality knives and made of high carbon steel.
The advantage of this type of knife is that the Japanese knives can become very sharp which has a positive impact on the meals that I prepare. The disadvantage is that the knives need to be sharpened very often. They do also tend to rust very easily.

Read more about Sushikok & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Where is it best to buy sushi knives?

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It is best to buy sushi knives in Japan.

A sushi knife is not just a sushi knife. There are many things to keep in mind when buying a sushi knife.

In Japan, there are many different Japanese sushi knives of different sizes.
In Japan, sushi knives are made in different types of steel, some knife blades are easy to maintain and others are more challenging.

Some Japanese sushi knives are made of cheap steel, while others are made of exclusive steel, which has a long shelf life.

The shaft of the knife is also different. On traditional Japanese sushi knives, the handle is made of wood. In Japan you can buy sushi knives where the shaft is made of cheap wood, but you can also buy knives where the wood is exclusive. The actual design of the shaft also varies.

The weight of sushi knives is different. Some knives are light while others are heavy.

In Denmark, the selection of sushi knives is very small. In fact, it is far too small. The knives I use all come for Japan. If I need a new Japanese knife, then I will only buy it in Japan.

Read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Does it require a special knife if you want to learn how to make sushi?

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In a sushi course for beginners, you will learn how to make delicious and tasty sushi that is suitable for a nice dinner at home.

In the class you will learn to apply Japanese cutting techniques at beginner level. To get the most success with the techniques required, you need to have a very sharp knife. The size of the knife or the brand is not crucial at that level.

If you want to make sushi that is suitable for a restaurant then you need to have a special knife and focus your skills.

You can read more about Sushi course for beginners

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Is there a difference between Japanese knives?

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Yes, there is a huge difference between Japanese knives.

In Denmark most Japanese knives are made of stainless steel. These knives are of good quality that do not need much maintenance. But, they will never be as sharp as Japanese knives which are made in a different type of steel.

The knife blade of Japanese knives has a special design and they can become very sharp if sharpened the right way. The steel used for that type of knives affects the various raw materials. By using various cutting techniques you can emphasize the aromas, taste and quality of the raw materials for sushi.

At Sushi course for beginners you will learn how to apply the basic Japanese cutting techniques.

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Zoë has held sushi courses and cooking classes for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.

Sharpen Japanese knives

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A Japanese sandstone is a must if you have Japanese knives made in Japan. This is one is purchased in the Korean town of LA. The best way to store at sandstone is to keep it in water.

Read more about Sushi chef & sake sommelier Zoë Escher

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Zoë has lectured and held sushi courses for A. P. Moller – Maersk, Hugo Boss Nordic, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Velux, Gorrissen Federspiel, Beierholm revision, Elbek & Vejrup and many more.